Episode 274, scene 1.
Courtroom of Judge Irwin A. Chester. Preliminary hearing for Lee
Webber. Dr. Rossi is being interrogated by Steven Cord.
SC: When was the last time you saw Ann Howard, alive?
MR: It was the morning of her death. She came to my office at the
hospital.
SC: And what was discussed that morning?
MR: She told me she had found some papers in her father's trunk. Papers
that proved that you and she were brother and sister.
SC: Let the record show that the witness referred to myself, Steven Cord.
And what was your reaction to her statement?
MR: I was surprised. I asked her not to do anything about it til we had
a chance to talk it over.
SC: And she agreed?
MR: Yes.
SC: And that was the last time you saw her alive?
MR: Yes.
SC: Was that the last time you talked to her before she died?
MR: No. I talked to her on the phone later that afternoon.
SC: Did she sound happy?
MR: Happy?
SC: Yes.
MR: No.
SC: Well, how did she sound, doctor?
MR: Well, she sounded all right.
SC: You previously testified that she talked to you on the phone from
your beach cottage. What was she doing there?
MR: Waiting for me.
SC: Well, that was quite some time after she finished work at the book
store. Right?
MR: Yes.
SC: More than an hour?
MR: I suppose so.
SC: Where had she been from the time she left the book store til the
time she arrived at your house?
MR: I don't know. She said she had been on an errand.
SC: An errand. You mean, a shopping errand?
MR: I don't know. She just said an errand.
SC: You say she wasn't upset, or distressed, or nervous.
MR: No, she just . . . She seemed all right.
SC: Well, when you talked with the deceased on the phone did she call
you or did you call her?
MR: I called her.
SC: Why?
MR: Because I was worried about her.
SC: You mean because of the shock of her discovering that she had a
brother and a mother and they were right here in town?
MR: That's right.
SC: But, you were especially worried because you knew her medical
history. Right?
JF: [Rises] Objection, your honor.
JC: Sustained. The court has already determined that the medical record
is not germane. Strike the question.
MR: I told you. She sounded all right.
JC: The witness will not answer questions that have already been
stricken from the record. The clerk will disregard the witness's
last statement.
SC: What else was said in that last phone conversation?
JF: Objection, your honor, haven't we gone on with this long enough?
SC: The witness was the last person to talk with the deceased. The last
person who can give us any indication of her frame of mind. I
strongly urge you to let me continue.
JC: Objection denied.
[Fowler sits.]
JC: What else was said in that last conversation, doctor?
MR: Well, she wanted to know when I was coming home. I told her I had
to go into surgery.
SC: And, what was her reaction to that?
MR: She was disappointed. I made her promise not to go outside of the
house until I came home. And I told her I loved her.
SC: You said, "I love you"?
MR: Yes.
SC: Because you were worried and you wanted to re-assure her?
MR: Yes, because of that and because I loved her.
SC: Let me read to you from the prosecution's exhibit A. The sworn
statement made by the defendant covering his movements on the day
of Ann Howard's death.
I know how bad it sounds for me, but it's true.
I followed Ann Howard to the Peyton house.
Q. What time was that?
A. I don't know. In the afternoon. Late in the afternoon.
Q. How long was she in the Peyton house?
A. About 15 minutes. I was going to let off some steam
at her for coming back hering everything. But, when
she came out of the Peyton House she was crying.
She looked like if I even said a word to her she
would get hysterical.
SC: Now that's where Ann Howard went after work before she went to your
house, Dr. Rossi. That's what she referred to as her errand. She
was so upset, so hysterically upset by that errand that she
couldn't even tell you about it. Not even you.
JF: Objection, your honor. We're not interested in Mr. Cord's
interpretations of the deceased feelings.
JC: Sustained.
SC: Are you still convinced that Ann Howard was murdered?
JF: [Rises] Objection.
JC: Sustained.
SC: Your honor.
JC: Sustained.
SC: Very well, your honor. When you learned of Ann Howard's death
didn't you honestly fear that she had committed suicide?
JF: Objection, your honor. That calls for a conclusion on the part of
the witness.
SC: Your honor, the witness is a doctor. He was very close to Ann
Howard. Now I submit that his conclusion in a hearing that is to
determine whether a man is to be brought to trial for homocide is
extremely relevant and necessary.
JC: Very Well.
JF: Your honor.
JC: Objection overruled.
JF: But, your honor.
JC: Objection overruled, Mr. Fowler.
SC: When you learned of Ann Howard's death, did you fear she had
committed suicide?
SC: Did you hear the question, doctor?
MR: I heard the question, Mr. Cord.
SC: Well, will you please answer?
MR: Yes.
SC: You said?
MR: Yes. I was afraid. That was my first thought I . . .
SC: In her frame of mind and under the circumstances . . .
JF: Your honor, counsel is leading the witness.
MR: I thought she had . . .
SC: . . .Leaped from Sailors' Bluff?
JF: Your honor. This is outrageous.
[Gavel]
JC: Mr. Cord. I must caution you.
SC: Sir, we are trying to get at the truth.
SC: Dr. Rossi, I will rephrase the question.
MR: You don't have to rephrase the question. Yes. My first thought was
tha Ann Howard had leaped from Sailors' Bluff.
Episode 274, scene 1HOME